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County Councillor can’t bring himself to vote at the general election

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Paul Dowson at the 2017 election count: At Sir Thomas Picton School (pic: The Herald)

A NEWLY elected member of Pembrokeshire County Council has taken to social media to say that he will not be voting at the general election.

County Councillor Paul Dowson, who scraped into a seat in Pembroke Dock Central ward by just a few votes, and who says that he is a firm believer that every vote counts, has admitted that he cannot be comfortable with voting for any party on June 8.

In the Facebook rant on the Pembrokeshire Council Watch group, he said today (May 16): “I am a big advocate for not wasting a vote, especially since winning my own campaign by just four votes.

“Having said this I will technically be wasting my vote in the general election. There isn’t one party I would be comfortable voting for.

“Tories are exactly as majority of people say and could someone like me ever associate myself with that brand of politics. Elitist toffs with no sense of what the real world is about. Crap leader and no one with an ounce of leadership essentials waiting in the wings

“Labour have gone from being a down to earth hard working persons party. To a bunch of molly coddled PC obsessed gang of spineless liberal hippies.

“Corbyn makes me want to shake him and give him the back of my hand. Has about 10% of the required elements to justify his existence as a Man! The other 90% are definitely girl or hippy derived.

“I think Mr Tierney is a good candidate but would not vote for him because of the labour party lacking courage. Sorry Marc.

“Liberal Democrats …yeah right.

“UKIP. .. Brilliant principles right ideas tick most of my boxes..

“Farage though not a hope wrong leader unvotable.

“The remainder of the parties… What benefits would there be for voting for a party with no hope?”

Cllr Dowson concluded: “I guess in my situation I have to waste my vote.”

The candidates for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire ward are Alistair Cameron, Welsh Liberal Democracts, Phil Edwards, UKIP Wales, Simon Hart, Welsh Conservative Party, Abi Thomas, Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales, Mac Tierney, Welsh Labour.

Speaking to The Herald, Cllr Downson said: “I am not a politician and I do not want to be a politician. I believe strongly in using your vote so I’d rather vote for a party I can trust than one I can’t trust.
“I couldn’t not use my vote but it will be for one of the political parties I personally have no faith in. I voted for Blair’s Labour, I voted for Thatcher even though I didn’t agree with all they stood for, but at the time they had good points. I disagree with a lot of the main parties’ attitudes and policies… granted all sides have points I believe in.
“I’m a councillor whose job it is to serve my people, not my people and my party. I am independent for that very reason – it shouldn’t matter which political party I support or don’t support, I’m not splitting my loyalties at this close to the people level.
“I support and serve the people of my ward regardless of my views on Corbyn or Farage or May (is she James May’s sister?). There are those who have started trolling me because of this but this is why I avoid politics – best leave that to the politicians. I make no apology for what I think about party leaders, it’s better to quote the truth than to quote a party statement.
“I have no idea why there are a handful of people who can’t accept that my loyalties are with my community and that I have my own opinions on political parties… I value my right to vote that should be the issue here not who I will vote for.”

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

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Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

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Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

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A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

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Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

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AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit

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